Just So Stories

Hachette Australia

I’ve often commented on my love of a great ‘mouse’ book and they don’t get much better or prettier than Claris. These books are such a reflection of Megan Hess’ exquisite sense of fashion and her excellent eye for elegant aesthetics and the stories so enjoyable for your Smalls. What a gorgeous gift they make as well!

Claris and the Secret Ballet

July 2026

ISBN:9781761217050

Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99

Series:Claris Storybooks

Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing

When adorable Claris happens upon a small arched doorway, she discovers a delightful hidden ballet studio. She also sees a ballerina rat who is struggling with her technique. First, Claris is inspired to make the poor thing some better pointe shoes and secretly leaves them as a gift – it doesn’t quite do the trick but there is definite improvement. Next, Claris makes the rat a gorgeous new tutu – and that also helps somewhat but still those leaps and twirls are far from perfect. Claris decides that what this young dancer needs is someone who has faith in her abilty – and who better to inspire than the chicest mouse in Paris? So as Claris reveals herself, and the secret of the gifts is revealed, the dancer’s confidence knows no bounds and soon the pair are off to the premier Palais Garnier for the young ballerina to seek her spotlight. Another delightful story and one which will thrill the young ballerinas in our readership. A 5 🩰🩰🩰🩰🩰rating for readers from Prep upwards [yes, my girls started dancing aged 4 and danced well into their teens with success enough to be given solos in the end of year concerts.]

Return to the Ritz: Claris (the Chicest Mouse in Paris) – Claris #10

September 2026

ISBN:9781761215209

Price:AU$26.99, NZ$29.99

I am sure that many, if not most, readers will know the history of the great Coco Chanel (Megan’s biography of Chanel is well worth reading I can tell you) and many will have one or the other of the kid biographies of this most famous of all fashion designers.

But Claris takes us all on a very different look inside the art, style and charisma of Chanel and gives the reader the chance to reflect on Coco’s legacy to the world of fashion as well.

Claris and Monsieur happen to visit the Ritz where Chanel made her home for years, and also happen to see a bellboy charged with delivering one of the designer’s dresses as they pass the Chanel boutique on Rue Cambon. But oh oh! the bellboy has dropped his significant tip in his rush to get the gown to the Ritz.

So Claris and Monsieur leap to the rescue and hurry after him to give him his gratuity. Inside the Ritz [yes, a mouse and a cat in the foyer of the flashest hotel in Paris, nothing to see here folks] the pair keep a low profile as they search for the bellboy. But Claris’ low profile includes landing on a dining table and having to disguise herself in a folded napkin, being thrown down a laundry chute and more until they are finally able to get the cash surreptitiously to the bellboy.

Along the way, the readers find out more about the great Coco and this famous Parisian hotel and it’s another fabulous and stylish read. I just love the finish of these books which reflect the very fashion that inspires them. The gold foil accents including page edging is always particularly gorgeous and the endpapers are always just divine!!

This one, of course, is another very ritzy glitzy 5 ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ🗼ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ🗼ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ rating for readers from around Year 3 upwards.